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The best places to stay during Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is upon us and hotels are already beginning to fill up. If you haven’t started planning your trip already, now is the time.

With so many hotels throughout the city, it's hard to know which ones are the best for Mardi Gras. Location is important. Take it from us – you do not want to have to drive and park during Mardi Gras celebrations. Being able to walk to where you want to be is a lifesaver – especially when you need to use the bathroom.

If you want to stay on or near a parade route, then we have a couple of suggestions:

For a hotel that is close to the Uptown parades and has that classic New Orleans feel, then any of the hotels that are a part of the Garden District Hotel Collection are great places to stay during Mardi Gras. This hotel group includes The Prytania Park, Prytania Oaks and Queen Anne Hotels.

Each one of these hotels is located in the historic Lower Garden District, and only steps away from the parades and streetcar line on St. Charles Ave. Using the streetcar, it’s only a short ride to downtown and all of the Mardi Gras celebrations in the French Quarter.

There are also some more modern hotels along the parade routes. Hotel Indigo is an upscale property in the Garden District, and it’s right on St. Charles Avenue. Request a window facing St. Charles Avenue and you can watch the parades while you sip on your coffee from your room with wooden floors and chic décor.

St. Christopher Hotel at the foot of Magazine Street, steps away from the Warehouse District and the French Quarater, is ideal for those who want to spend a lot of time in the French Quarter, but would like to have an easy walk back to a slightly less-hectic area to get some rest.

There are also a lot of great options for those who want to stay in the French Quarter.

The Maison Dupuy Hotel is about as good as it gets. It embodies everything New Orleans is about with a stylish courtyard and that historic-home feel. It’s also right in the middle of the Mardi Gras action.

Hotel St. Helene is a beautifully restored hotel, and only two blocks away from Bourbon Street. It offers great views of the French Quarter, and the rooms are fully equipped with all the modern comforts of home (like LCD flat screen TVs and iPod docking stations).

The Frenchman Hotel is just outside the French Quarter, in the hip Faubourg Marigny, and has both contemporary and “period” rooms. The private balconies and awesome pool are two of our favorite features.